CBB: LeVert leads No. 10 Michigan to 10th straight win

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Caris LeVert had 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, and No. 10 Michigan beat Purdue 75-66 on Thursday night, extending its winning streak to 10.

Nik Stauskas scored 16 points and Derrick Walton added 14 for the Big Ten leaders. The Wolverines (16-4, 8-0) shot 61 per cent from the field against a Purdue team that had held its previous five opponents under 42.

The Boilermakers (13-8, 3-5) were led by A.J. Hammons, who had 16 points and eight rebounds.

Michigan was coming off three straight wins over top-10 teams, and there was no letdown at home against Purdue.

LeVert has been one of the Big Ten's most improved players this season, and the wiry sophomore showed he can mix it up around the basket against Purdue. After playing 39 minutes in Saturday's win at Michigan State -- and finishing with eight rebounds to match what was then his career high -- he went right back to work Thursday.

The 6-foot-6 LeVert went 5 of 11 from the field, and in addition to leading both teams in rebounding, he also added two assists, two blocks and three steals.

Walton, meanwhile, has looked increasingly comfortable after a quiet start to his freshman season. The Michigan point guard went 6 of 7 from the field against Purdue, helping take some of the pressure off Stauskas.

The Wolverines turned the ball over eight times in the first half in an uncharacteristically sloppy display, but they led 37-29 at halftime after Walton's driving layup in the final seconds.

Michigan made nine of its first 11 shots in the second half and led 56-41 after a jumper by Walton. It was 60-52 after Hammons dunked on Stauskas and drew a foul with 8:59 to play, but he missed the free throw and Michigan's Zak Irvin connected from 3-point range at the other end.

Purdue had been 78-4 under coach Matt Painter when finishing with more rebounds and fewer turnovers than the opponent. But the Boilermakers did both those things Thursday and lost anyway. Michigan's sharp shooting was simply too much to overcome.

Bryson Scott had 12 points for the Purdue and Ronnie Johnson added 11. Jordan Morgan had 11 points and six rebounds for Michigan -- another impressive performance for the senior who has helped the Wolverines withstand the loss of star big man Mitch McGary, who is out indefinitely with a back injury.

(Photo: The Canadian Press)

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